DOUGLAS HAS AN EAGLE COURT OF HONOR

We got back from Spokane, jumped in our care and whizzed over to an Eagle Court of Honor.

All of our eight sons were Eagle scouts. This tradition is carried over to the grandchildren now. The first Eagle grandson was Johnny Hickey who is now a missionary in Greece.

Aaron, Roy's son has just qualified to become an Eagle Scout as well as Douglas, Doug's son. He had his Eagle Court of Honor last night.

Here is a picture of Eagle Scouts Dr. Doug with Douglas Jr.

Parents have a lot to do with this achievement. They act as motivators and reminders. It is a good achievement which requires planning, scheduling, getting things done on time and getting a pile of merit badges. Doug has helped with merit badges and Christina with motivation as well.

We are very proud of Douglas for this accomplishment which will follow him all his life.

I never got one because I could not swim. I never learned to swim in New York. My father intuitively kept us out of swimming pools which later were discovered to be the source of many polio epidemics at that time. The firs time I had my head under water, as I told the grandkids, was when I was baptized.

Scouting is still a great program.. we hope all will become Eagle Scouts like Johnny and Douglas.

Alles gute, Opa und Oma

JULIUS GETS BAPTIZED

Julius, Jeff and Tammy's oldest son, turned eight and his baptism was scheduled so we could also be there. This was one of the finest baptisms and there was a good spirit there.

Julius was born in Alabama. I remember that their first child came after some time and Tammy, bored with no kids at home, got a law degree while Jeff finished medical school and an Internship in Birmingham. She was carrying Julius when she graduated. I remember Julius when they lived at the farm in Michigan. He was always the best little guy.

The baptismal service was at the Stake House. Rob an Eva and their kids came along with friends; the full time missionaries were there as well. Rob gave a little talk, a 'spotlight', about Julius. All the kids including Rob's got up and sang, "I am a Child of God".

I gave a talk on baptism and mentioned that Julius was the sixth generation of the family to join the church. I mentioned how my grand grandparents Anna Hirschi and Leopold Wirthlin were the first to join and get baptized in 1862 in Switzerland. They went to a Sacrament meeting one Sunday and asked for baptism after the meeting. They were taken and baptized in Lake Geneva in their Sunday clothes and confirmed the next week in church. They left Switzerland to avoid persecution and came to America making their way across the plains as pioneers.

Jeff then baptized Julius.

As they were changing, Tammy led a song, "Lead Kindly Light" and told of her mission in Japan when she and her companion got off the main road on their bikes and ended in a rice paddy sinking in the muck. She hummed the words of this song as they got out of their predicament.

The full time missionaries did a nice job talking about the origins of the church, what we call a first discussion. Mom gave a talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost and also gave Julius a little flashlight. Jeff confirmed Julius. The bishop gave a nice talk and it was one of the sweetest baptisms. When they sang, "Called to Serve', I sang in quietly in German which is the way I know this anthem song of missionary work. We took Julius with the adults as the guest of honor to eat out.

This little "treat" tradition has grown a bit. As our children were baptized, the treat of the year was to take everyone to MacDonalds and the honored child would get his own milk shake.

We are proud of Julius and good work Jeff and Tammy.

Alles Gute, Oma und Opa

VISIT TO SPOKANE, WA.

We traveled up to Spokane, WA to see Jeff and Tammy and Rob and Eva and their kids for the first week of our vacation.

Here you see a picture if Eva and our newest grandson, Luke Robert who is about six weeks old. We stayed with Rob and Eva and saw Jeff and Tammy every day. They have had a lot of snow in Spokane and roofs were wrecked. Jeff had a leak in his roof that trickled down through the walls and ruined his new wood flooring. their place was torn up. Rob had new roof gutters destroyed by ice dams. it was cold and all the evergreens were frosted as the fog froze every day.

We had a nice dinner at Rob's. Eva whose mother is Austrian, made goulash and Spaetzle. It was fun to watch them make this and it was excellent. But it was like being in a Top Chef TV program because it was also like can you top this. The next night we had dinner at Jeff's and Tammy did salmon and lamb roast and then Jeff walked in with two large New England lobsters and fresh Dungess crab. That was really great. Mom had gone with Eva looking at oriental rugs and antique furniture and I went with Tammy to Cabelos with the kids.

The next day, I spent a day in Rob's opthamology clinic getting my eyes checked and getting refracted. We took the gang to Chucky Cheese and I survived that. Saturday Rob and I did some shooting and Mom baby sat while Jeff and Tammy worked in his private psychiatric practice.
We went to northern Idaho and went to a hunters restaurant.

I showed Eva how to make New York Bagels and Rob did this amazing brunch with fresh Bagels, lox, capers, onions, scrambled eggs, thin sliced steak and of course Pate de Fois Gras (sp?) on toasted sourdough bread.

It was great fun to visit Jeff and Rob. We went to Julius's baptism which is the subject of the next post.
Jeff is starting a private pyschiatric practice and Tammy helps in the office like Mom helped me. Rob is in a very busy clinci that drawa from all over. the place was packed with patients as I sat there.

We got back in time to greet four inches of snow in our driveway and in time for Douglas's Eagle court of honor.

Alles Gute, Dad and Mom

A NIGHT AT A UTAH JAZZ BASKETBALL GAME

We had another unusual evening: a night at the Utah Jazz game in a private box.

It was Mark H.'s birthday and he invited us with three other couples from our ward to go to a Jazz game with him and his family. Markie is particular whom he invites and they have a three page list of friends and Gayle P. said he spent a couple of days deciding whom he would invite. He has always been a friend. I used to take him on rounds at Sinaii Hospital when they visited us in Michigan.

So we piled into a large van and went to the Delta center, now the Energy something center where there was a massive crowd. Here is a picture of that Russian player going up for a shot.

We went up to the box on the fourth floor, located exactly at half court. It is of course a very cool private box with many seats, a hostess, security guards, and lots of food. Jon H. also has four seats on the first row on the floor at half court.

When we got there we found President Monson, (who goes to every Jazz game when he is in town and just loves basketball), was there greeting everyone. He is usually there with his a member of his family but he was there to greet Mark H. as well. He said to me, "Hi Doc!" and we chatted. It was great to see him there totally relaxed and so enjoying the game of basketball. I can't imagine the huge load he carries on his shoulder every minute of his life. He was great visiting with everyone in the box and cheering on the Jazz

At half time, the Jazz Mascot, a fuzzy Bear, came to the box and silly stringed everyone and hugged everyone including me. That is what I call a Bear Hug! Here is Mark getting attacked. Then there were pictures and here is Mark in the center; some of you may recognize the other two.

There is such a sideshow during the game. At each pause, time out or whatever, those energetic cheerleaders take to the floor and dance all over the place. The Bear Mascot is also doing things constantly. The successful University of Utah football team, the only undefeated team in all college football walked out on the court and the crowd went nuts.

They have these other stunts as well: people from the 'all you can eat meat Brazilian restaurant' came out with a hind quarter of beef and one guy with a big machete carved off slabs of roast and the cheerleaders gave plates to the lucky ones in the crowd. They were even flipping pieces of meat to the fans. The Mascot Bear had a gigantic sling shot and shot four footballs with all the signatures of the University of Utah football team into the crowd. There were many other antics and the whole thing had a Roman Coliseum air to it.

Well it was a blast; today we leave for Spokane, WA

Alles Gute.. Oma und Opa

JANUARY VACATION

When we were called to serve in the Salt Lake
Temple. we were asked to plan our vacations around the Temple closing times. At first this seemed like a constraint but we adjusted. We do not take long vacations anyway.

The Salt Lake Temple is closed the last two weeks in January and the first two weeks in July. Last Wednesday was our last day this month.

The temple has been quite busy especially before the Christmas holiday. On the last Tuesday before that holiday it was very busy. There were 51 weddings and there were so many pretty brides around. Mom says I should not notice that but how can you help not to notice beauty.

In the Baptistery, there were 5000 0rdinances performed in addition to 1900 other ordinances elsewhere. I am not sure what the greatest number is but that was a busy day. It is so great to work there and see all the people flocking in; they bring joy and happiness. I am also impressed with the number of younger couples who come.

Mom and I go together but we have different schedules and most of the time I do not see her but we leave little notes. She is always busy and loves working with the brides.

So now we have two weeks off and we plan to Visit Jeff and Tammy and Rob and Eva and their kids in Spokane, WA. I'll have Rob's Opthamology group check out my eyes while we are there.

We are also going especially for Julius's baptism which they organized when we could be off. It is so great to see the kids coming along and it is getting to be a challenge to keep up with their ordinance work. I do not know what we will do when Julianna turns eight in Mexico City, Mexico. Might be a good excuse to go down there! (Or have them come back home!)

The July time off will be at Bear Lake and we are planning a family get together there. Talk to Mom about your vacation plans.

Things have been pretty stable around here. Al was under the weather with a miscarriage but is getting better and we have had the kids over here for a little while. It is fun to sit with them in church but they are pretty squiggly. They come over tomorrow after church for dinner. I'll see if I can get some iron into her.

Here is Opa giving Henry LeRoy his bottle. Haven't quite forgotten how to do this. These little boys keep staring at me as if their eyes were asking, "Don't I know you from somewhere?'

Mom and I speak in our home ward tomorrow, I think for the first time. I miss the Student Ward but some of those members drop by the house anyway and it is always great to chat with them.

Alles Gute, Opa und Oma

SAFE HAVEN?

We have had a lot of snow up here on the foothills of Salt Lake. When it rains in the valley, it snows on the bench so it is starting to pile up. I have an ATV with a plow that we have used frequently to keep the drive way clear.

We have always found deer tracks across our lawn and driveway but when we woke up, there were four deer in our backyard. We have a huge spruce tree in the back yard and they sought shelter from the snow storm. Here we see two does; one bedded down and the other eating Oma's plants. They are pregnant and Mom hopes they will come here to have their fawns. This must be a birthing station!

I watched these deer as they lay there and browsed so peacefully and wondered if they really knew what they were doing. They did not see the mounts on the wall and did not know about the venison in the freezer; they felt perfectly safe.

And then I noticed the cheekiest of all things; here was a nice buck bedded down just above the does. King of the hill and Lord of my roost! What nerve I thought and he did not know what he was doing. My grandfather hunted deer as did my father and I have also done this since a young boy. If there is a hunting gene in our family, I have had it big time which in later years led me to Africa for dangerous game safaris. I have felt differently about all this after my recent mission but still this was pushing it.

And then he got up and leisurely walked across my back yard and it was too much. I have to admit taking a rifle and putting a bead on this chap through the window; after all a buck in the sights is the thrill of the hunt.

But it was only practice. When my three year old granddaughter, Maryanne saw the deer, she asked, "Are those your deer Opa?" "I guess so" assuring their safety.

Here is something else that has found safe haven by our home.

Alles Gute, Opa

THE UTES DO IT AGAIN: MORE FAMILY CELEBRATION

University of Utah football team played in the Sugar Bowl and it was cause for another spontaneous family get together. Our old TV of 20 years finally died so we had to get a new one. This is a large Panasonic screen with HD capabilities. Watching football on that screen is like being there.

Paul and Rebecca + kids, Douglas + some of his kids came for the show. John, Kaley and Grantli (up from Florioda) were there in various stages of health. Mike and Rayanne and their family were here already. Joseph had to participate in a family project for his merit badge and decided to bring his parents and brothers and sisters to help Oma put away and store the Christmas decorations which is an unbelievable chore. So we all gathered around.

There was quite a bit of trash talking of the Utes by all except for Mom and me (alumni). Doug lived in Alabama and some kids were born there so the feeling was high. We have a family of nutso BYU fans who also like to see the Utes get beaten but not today.

There was a snow storm going on and the snow interfered with the direct TV reception. People had to run out and clean off the dish and we missed two Utah touchdowns.

We could not believe the ferocity that the Utes went after the "Crimson Tide" who had been ranked #1 in the nation for half the year. It was a tremendous win and the talk turned to "Why isn't Utah the #1 College footbal team?" The Utah players all had the initials JBW on their helmets honoring their biggest fan, the late Joseph B. Wirthlin. Maybe it gave them the boost because they were fired up like never before.

Half time there was Kasefondue supervised by Opa. We made this in Cathy's Xmas gift; a Cuisinart Electric Fondue Pot which made the fondue perfectly. Tummies were filled and time to get back to the game. I missed another touchdown cleaning the Fondue pot!

No family get together is complete without a (friendly ?) board game. Here all are gathered for 'Settlers' which occupied the second half of the football game.

Sometimes family relations are strained as I believe we have raised the most competitive kids around. Doug manages to win these games amidst some mumbling.

Well the holiday is over and what a blast it was. Not everyone came last night because whenever the family gets together, there is always an outbreak of some illness.. usually a nasty variety of flu and it was not so bad this year but several remained home treating themselves or avoiding the gathering for public health reasons. I say it is good to get together... it builds the immune system... I never get sick!

Alles Gute und ein frohes Neu Jahr

Opa u, Oma